Colts Sign Wide Receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey

NFL via Getty Images(NEW YORK) — The Indianapolis Colts were looking to add some explosiveness on offense and they may have done just that as they’ve signed wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey to a free agent contract.

According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, Heyward-Bey’s deal will reward him with $1.5 million, but the rest of the financial details have yet to be released.

Heyward-Bey was the seventh overall pick of the 2009 draft, but never quite lived up to the expectations the team placed on him after being taken so high. He wound up being released by the team earlier in the offseason, and now he’ll be catching passes from Andrew Luck.

“He’s big, strong and shows toughness in traffic and after the catch,” Colts general manager Ryan Grigson said. “He’s got elite finishing speed that’s as good as there is in the NFL. With this staff, this team and overall culture we’re building here in Indy, we felt strongly that he was the right player and person at the wide receiver position for us moving forward.”

After a career year in 2011, last season Heyward-Bey caught 41 passes for 606 yards along with five touchdowns.

He’ll be the Colts’ third receiver behind Reggie Wayne and T.Y. Hilton.